BAY CITY, MI — A Bay City man police say hid methamphetamine in his sock, then while wanted on a warrant for that offense attacked his boyfriend with a knife and shoved him down some stairs, has accepted a plea deal.

David A. Kitson, 35, on Wednesday, June 4, appeared before Bay County Chief District Judge Timothy J. Kelly and pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine, a 10-year felony, and no contest to one count of domestic violence, third offense, punishable by up to five years in prison.

A no contest plea is not an admission of guilt but is treated as such for the purposes of sentencing.

As part of the plea deal, the prosecution agreed not to seek enhanced sentences as a habitual offender. The prosecution also agreed to dismiss charges of assault with a dangerous weapon and assault with intent to cause great bodily harm less than murder.

Kitson's drug charge stems from a traffic stop conducted by a Bay County Sheriff's deputy on Wednesday, March 5. On that date, the deputy pulled over a car driven by Kitson's boyfriend, Derek Guenther, on Interstate 75.

Kitson was in the passenger seat of the vehicle and initially gave the deputy a false name, court records show.

Guenther told the deputy that Kitson had some contraband in his shoe. Kitson removed the shoe and the deputy recovered a plastic bag containing an unknown substance, court records show.

Kitson told the deputy another man had ordered him at gunpoint to go to Lansing and pick up some drugs, court records show.

The substance was tested and determined to be 0.29 grams of methamphetamine.

Authorities issued a warrant for Kitson's arrest on April 29. Before he was caught, police on Thursday, May 22, responded to a fighting complaint at an apartment building in the 400 block of North Farragut Street. A female resident of the building called 911 to report her neighbors, Guenther and Kitson, were fighting, court records show.

Upon arrival, police saw Guenther and the woman standing inside the building, the former with an abrasion to his face and neck, court records show. The woman told police they should hurry to the upstairs apartment, saying, "he's probably cutting himself with a knife," court records show.

Guenther told police that he was asleep until Kitson awoke him with a knife to his throat. "So, how do you want to kill ourselves?" Kitson asked him, according to Guenther.

Guenther said he got up and began packing a bag, planning on leaving. Kitson, whom he described as his life partner, followed him around, choked him and eventually shoved him down the building's stairs, Guenther said. The woman told the pair she was calling police, and Kitson replied that he was going to cut himself and say Guenther did it, court records show.

Guenther also said that he had a personal protection order against Kitson. He added that Kitson had bit him a few days prior, but he did not call police because he didn't want to get his boyfriend in trouble.

Police kicked in Kitson's door and arrested him. They found a knife on the living room floor with blood on it, court records show.

Interviewed by police, Kitson said that Guenther was the one who turned violent and punched and cut him. He denied any wrongdoing and said the apartment is his, not Guenther's.

Kelly acted as a Circuit Court judge for the plea hearing. A Circuit Court judge is to sentence Kitson at a date yet to be set.